Tag Archives: book

"Good design would allow for abundance, endless use and pleasure." - The Upcycle

When William McDonough and Michael Braungart first thought up their “waste equals food” vision, there were doubts on how far this idea would go. Now, ten years after putting the Cradle to Cradle concept into practice, William McDonough and Michael Braungart have envisioned the next step In the solution to our ecological crisis.

For them, the questions of resource scarcity and sustainability are revolved around design. They see the Cradle to Cradle ideas being put to use in designs of products, buildings and business practices Factories are being re-imagined not just to sustain life on the planet but to grow it.

In The Upcycle (and in general), McDonough and Braungart’s mission is to flip our very understanding of the human role on earth: Instead of protecting the planet from human impact, why not redesign our activity to improve the planet? We can have a beneficial footprint and abundance for all.

Since the beginning of Cradle to Cradle, Shaw Industries has adopted those ideas and incorporated them into how we make our products. Shaw Industries is mentioned in The Upcycle as a pioneer in the early integration of Cradle to Cradle ideas, alongside other large, international companies like Herman Miller, Steelcase and Ford.

Like us on Facebook and share on our wall how you make everyday Earth Day for a chance to win a copy of The Upcycle by William McDonough and Micheal Braungart.

Artist, freelance writer, and Inhabitat.com architecture editor Bridgette Meinhold published an important new book this month, titled “Urgent Architecture: 40 Sustainable Housing Solutions for a Changing World,” which is well worth a read. As excerpted from the book’s profile (via W.W. Norton & Company), “There is an urgent need for safe, sustainable housing designs that are cheap to build, environmentally friendly, and hardy enough to withstand severe environmental conditions. Not only is there climate change to contend with, but there are millions of people, right now, who do not have safe or adequate housing.”

In Urgent Architecture, Bridgette Meinhold showcases 40 successful emergency and long-term housing projects—from repurposed shipping containers to sandbag homes. She surveys successful structures as well as highlighting promising projects that are still being developed. Every one is quickly deployable, affordable, and sustainable. This book is an essential resource for those who are interested in green building, sustainable design, eco-friendly materials, affordable housing, material reuse, and humanitarian relief.

Interior designer Thom Filicia has spent nearly two years doing renovations on a home he bought on Skaneatles Lake in Central New York. In his just-released interior design book, American Beauty: Renovating and Decorating A Beloved Retreat, Filicia uses photography to tell the story of how he brought his new home back to life. “The house was just charming and simple enough that it could have a slightly modern aesthetic,” Filicia told InStyle.com. “It’s on a really beautiful piece of property in a community that is very special to me.” Purchase the book on Amazon for $28.

Thom Filicia has also recently collaborated with Shaw Hospitality Group to create Central Square. The collections was inspired by the heart of cities where architectural edges meets an organic core and hard, angular, classic lines of the urban landscape join the soft, free-flowing curves of nature. Learn more about the collection on Shaw Hospitality Group’s website.

Inspiration for the Central Square collection with Thom Felicia and Shaw Hospitality Group

Concrete designs are often associated with something cold, dreary and hard. But in a new book by William Hall and Leonard Koren, Concrete showcases how the material can be transformed into more than just a depressing industrial building or housing foundation. Concrete takes a look into how the material has enabled some of the best architects and designers in the world to create amazing structures. From the Guggenheim Museum in New York to the Church of Light in Japan, these are just some examples of how concrete has changed design.

“Concrete is a noble material. Its development is one of humankind’s greatest achievements. It might not be up there with the discovery of fire on demand, but it is greater than the invention of plywood, perhaps even on a par with the advent of steelmaking.” — Leonard Koren

Imagine: How Creativity Works explores where innovative thoughts originate and explains how some companies are not working to create environments where they’re more likely to occur. The book suggests that the best ideas come when you least expect them; when you are in a relaxed state. Supporting this idea, designers are incorporating spaces in workspace environments that reduce stress, such as game rooms or relaxation spaces.

In an interview with NPR, author Jonah Lehrer also says that when solving a technical problem, outsiders are often more successful than the expert in the field. Shaw Contract Group applies this thinking in product collaborations. It expands our thinking and encourages us to think differently about our designs.

This week Shaw Contract is celebrating World Green Building Week, a flagship event of the global green building movement – organized by the World Green Building Council and led by its network of 74 Green Building Councils and their 27,000 … Continue reading →

Made by Design: PLACES

Spend the day in a vibrant metropolis. Explore the shores of a coastline. In your travels, slow down. Take a glimpse of the changing landscape. City to sea, local to global, collaborate workplace to quiet retreat. Places captures single moments … Continue reading →